Previously, having your tooth knocked out signaled the end of a wholesome smile.
It was no longer possible to venture into the public without overwhelming feelings of self-consciousness constantly weighing you down. And for people who work in jobs where public image is everything, such as models and news anchors, losing a tooth could quickly bring an otherwise illustrious career to a screeching halt.
Fortunately, advancements in modern dentistry have remarkably changed all that. With the right equipment and technical expertise, dental clinics can help you regain your smile after experiencing a devastating dental accident.
But since there’s a time lapse between losing your tooth and visiting a dentist, certain tips are necessary to remain safe and discrete. That includes properly handling the knocked-out tooth as you make the all-too-important trip to a dental facility.
This post highlights the various strategies to handle a knocked-out tooth before seeing an emergency dentist.
1. Protect Your Teeth
If your tooth has been knocked out, it’s imperative to contact your dentist immediately. An emergency dentist will quickly assess the broken tooth and recommend the most appropriate intervention.
But since we all wish things never get this far, it’s essential to take proactive measures to protect our teeth.
The most effective way to protect your teeth is by wearing mouthguards. Studies on the impact of mouthguards have shown that these dental wearables can significantly minimize the risks of chipped, fractured, and broken teeth for professional athletes.
Mouthguards are particularly effective for close-contact sportspersons, such as boxers, wrestlers, and martial artists. However, you could wear them while riding a bike to keep your teeth intact if accidents occur.
2. Find the Tooth
So, you’ve diligently undertaken all preventive measures to protect your teeth! But as the saying goes, you can never be too careful.
If your teeth have unfortunately been knocked out for whatever reason, the first step is to find the tooth. Scour the ground for the broken tooth and try to find it as soon as possible, typically within half an hour.
If you cannot find the tooth, there’s no need to fret. You should still schedule an urgent visit to a dental clinic and inform your dentist of the accident.
The dentist will examine the space and fill it using any of the below methods;
- Dentures – Removable false teeth that you occasionally detach to clean.
- Bridge – Gluing a false tooth to the adjacent teeth using a special dental cement.
- Implant – Placing a titanium screw in the jawbone, which stays for a few months before a dentist inserts a false tooth into the space.
3. Examine the Extent of Damage
Dental accidents can result in losing a whole tooth (sometimes several teeth) or fragments.
If you can find the knocked-out tooth, pick up all the parts.
Teeth are hard enough to withstand impact when they fall onto the ground. So, the best way to tell that you’ve only lost fragments of a tooth is to check if the remaining tooth is chipped.
Your dentist may be able to glue back fragments of a tooth, depending on their size. Alternatively, they may rebuild your tooth using filling material or replacing the entire tooth altogether.
4. Rinse the Tooth
A knocked-out tooth can fall onto all manner of ground, from a dusty pitch to a grass patch. Regardless of where the tooth lands, gently pick it up and rinse it with warm water.
Use plain, lukewarm water. Avoid harsh cleaning solutions.
Do not use soaps and detergents either, as these products contain chemicals that could harm the tooth’s root surface cells.
Experts also advise against trying to scrape or scrub the broken tooth, even if it’s visibly stained. Your only focus should be to rinse dirt and debris off the tooth, not try to restore its brilliance.
5. Store the Tooth Properly
Proper handling of a knocked-out tooth entails every procedure required to keep the tooth in crisp condition as you trip to an emergency dental clinic.
First, pick the tooth gently off the ground and hold it by the crown. Do not use a spoon, spatula, or anything that might damage the tooth further.
After picking the tooth up, strive to keep it moist at all times. You can moisten the tooth by keeping it in your mouth next to your cheek, reinserting it into the socket, and holding it down with a mouthguard. If neither is possible, perhaps because the nerves are exposed, causing excruciating pain, store the tooth in milk.
Milk storage is exclusively recommended for baby milk teeth. Do not try to reinsert your baby’s teeth into the socket or have them hold it in their mouth, as your little bundle of joy might accidentally swallow the tooth.
It’s also best to avoid wrapping a broken tooth in a gauze or tissue. If all looks great, visit a dental clinic as soon as possible.
Summary
Losing a tooth is a dental accident we never wish to experience. But if it happens, handling the tooth carefully while seeking emergency dental services is imperative.
It doesn’t matter whether it’s an entire tooth or fragments. Proper care is necessary to improve the chances of attaching it back and restoring your much-required smile.
More importantly, remember to enlist the services of a professional dental clinic. Insist on a duly licensed and insured dentist, preferably one registered by the dentist board.
